Saturday, December 31, 2011

Yes, It's still 2011 here in Seattle as I write this, but the New Year is currently steamrolling across to globe and headed our way like a bunch of crazed, vintage 1985, Seahawks fans leaping from their seats in a successive Wave, and throwing their arms wildly into the air. Only, it's timing is much better.

And, even though it's been quite a while since I partied like it was 1999 (our store of Poppers for tonight not withstanding - woo hoo!), I wanted to make sure to note the passing of the old year and welcome the new one with a final post containing some of my goals for my role as a father for the upcoming calendar year.

Yeah, resolutions can be a lame attempt by those lacking proper normal resolve to use the changing of the calendar as a metaphor for the changing of their habits to ones which might serve themselves better in the upcoming year. But hey - when you are generally sleep deprived and up to your eyeballs in daily 'tasks', it doesn't hurt once a year to give yourself a mental boost by using them to give yourself a bit of extra motivation.

All that being said, even though I think I am a pretty good father to Lukas, I believe I can do even better in the new year.

So here are the 5 Dad Resolutions I have made for myself for 2012.

1.I resolve to get to bed by midnight every night - This sounds crazy when I read it, but in reality I am often not getting to bed until 1 or 2 in the morning. Especially on weekends. Obviously this makes me tired the next day and I am subsequently not as engaged with Lukas as I could be. I should really be in bed by 11:00 but will start with midnight for now. Baby steps.

2. I resolve to look first for an opportunity to teach - I joke around a lot with Lukas. I like to make him laugh, and we do a lot. But I really need to take a cue from Mrs. LIAYF and more often look first to teach Lukas about why things are the way they are, rather than turn it into a joke. He deserves that more than I currently give to him.

3. I resolve to reduce my random online time by 50% - Sure, this is hard to measure, but it is a goal. I spend a lot of time online doing things that don't ultimately benefit Lukas. Cough*Twitter*Cough. Yes, I still give him quite a bit of attention but I can still do better. And will. This doesn't mean I will stop blogging, but there are certainly other areas where I can certainly reduce my screen time.

4. I resolve to exercise 3 times a week - This one is huge. I am forty four years old now, and although I am not in terrible shape, I am not in good shape either. I often feel guilty when I am too exhausted to engage Lukas in an activity he wants to participate in. As I get older, for Lukas' sake I really need to ensure he has a healthy father around.

5. I resolve to discipline more consistently - This is not a big problem with us, but I am a pretty laid back guy and can tend to let things go when I should be providing a more consistent message with Mrs. LIAYF. It will definitely serve Lukas well as he grows older to have a clear message from both his parents on where his boundaries lie.

So, tell me readers. Do you have any parenting resolutions for 2012? Care to share?

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

This is the 2nd half of my 2011 'Best Of' blog posts entry. You can view the first installment, from earlier this month, here. Taken together, they provide a primer on what 'Luke, I am Your Father' was about in 2011.

This past year has been the 4th that I have published here, and honestly it has also been the most difficult. I am finding it increasingly difficult to find the time or motivation to post regularly here. I'm sure most bloggers experience this at some point. Still, looking back I have published some good material this past year, and hope to continue doing so well into the future.

So, if you are new to the blog or just an occasional reader, check these following posts out and let me know what you think. I'm looking forward to hearing from you in 2012, and beyond.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

One thing I have noticed while perusing several 'Best of 2011' albums posts is that they are all vastly different. I think that's a product of the fact that there is an abundance of great music being made right now, but also because with all the delivery choices out there these days, it's easy to focus on a narrower set of genres to the exclusion of others.

And I'll be the first to admit that this is probably the case with my list as it stands below. I'm sure I have missed some great music simply for the fact that I haven't been exposed to it. That being said, I have listened to a ton of great music this past year. And the 20 listed below are the ones I personally consider the cream of the crop. Each title links to a video from a song on the album. Enjoy.

1. The Cave Singers - No Witch Smooth, folksy goodness oozes from the seams of this Seattle trios third release. Great music to play while kicking back after a long day at the office.

2. Tapes n Tapes - OutsideWhen all the 'Best Of 2011' lists were coming out, I quickly scoured them all to see how high each rated this record. Needless to say I was disappointed not to find it on ANY of them. This record has addictive riffs and catchy hooks laden throughout. I probably played it more than any other record this year. Given that, I would be very interested in hearing what you think about it after giving a full listen.

3. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues This second release from the Seattle folk rock artists is a beautiful, mellow, and harmonious compilation that will surely be as fresh and relevant 10 years from now as it is today.

4. Deer Tick - Divine ProvidenceI've seen this record described as 'sophomoric' and 'a party album', which is probably true but hey it's also a lot of fun. There are elements of punk, twang, garage rock, and humor all blended together to make what was easily my favorite noisy release of the year.

5. Black Whales - Shangri-La Indeed I had never listened to a Black Whales song before getting my subscription to Spotify, but I really enjoyed what I found in Shangri-La. Yes, this is yet another Seattle band, and perhaps I am being a homer but if you haven't checked these guys out, believe me you won't be sorry you did.

6. Beirut - The Rip TideAnother beautiful record from Zach Condon full of Eastern European gypsy influences and indie vibes. Beirut continue to be one of my all time favorite bands and The Rip Tide picks up nicely where The Flying Cup Club left off.

7. We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken ShipsPela was one of my favorite bands a couple of years ago, and I was pretty bummed when they broke up. And, although I hadn't followed the career of band members Billy McCarthy or Eric Sanderson there was no mistaken it was their new collaboration when I first hear We Are Augustines. This is a stunningly great record and on my most played list for 2011.

8. Devotchka - 100 loversAn eclectic, grand, and distinctly European sound, coupled with beautiful harmonies permeates this release. Don't be surprised if you find yourself daydreaming while listening to this record. Perhaps their best release to date.

9. My Goodness - My Goodness Terrific debut from this Seattle Blues Punk duo. Has the riffs to keep you coming back over and over again. Very similar to The Black Keys sound, but it has its own unique vibe.

10. Sallie ford & The Sound Outside - Dirty Radio Hailing from Portland, Oregon Sallie Ford had got unique pipes and a lot of fun rock and roll energy. This release is full of rockabilly leaning music that is simply fun to listen to.

The second 10. Honestly, any one of these could easily have cracked my top ten but although it was tough I had to choose. I also have one confession. Since they are not streaming it, and it was just recently released, I have only heard a couple of Songs from The Black Keys El Camino, but I am still ranking it in my top 20 because, after all, it's the Keys and thus is awesome.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Throughout Lukas' first 4 years Mrs. LIAYF and I consistently held firm with a certain mantra.

Despite statistics indicating that approximately 40% of Seattle families opt to send their children to private schools over a vastly less expensive public option, we weren't buying it. "We went to public school and turned out just fine" we would tell anyone who broached the subject. And "We're not even considering private school as an option" we told not only friends and family, but each other often when we thought about the choice we would have to make someday far in the future regarding where Lukas would go to kindergarten and beyond.

We honestly considered public school as our one and only choice. End of story.

But, and I'm sure you've gathered this by now, a funny thing happened along our path to loading Lukas onto a bus bound for the neighborhood elementary. As he entered Pre-K we started taking a more thoughtful look at the choices that were out there, and began to educate ourselves about the quality, cost, and philosophies of those different options.

While Mrs. LIAYF was busy checking private school application deadlines (many of which are due by mid-January), we scheduled some tours and attended some open houses at some very nice schools. Schools where, personally, I was AMAZED at the individualized and challenging lesson plans for kids starting in kindergarten.

These were schools with top-notch facilities, small class sizes, enthusiastic and engaged teachers, and caring and involved parents. Schools where the 3rd and 4th graders were addressing the large tour groups and giving presentations, the likes of which even to this day would make my knees buckle more than a bit, with confidence and ease. In short, it was clear to us that for most of these private schools, the kids who attended were getting a fantastic education. And they made us want very much to send our son there.

This is not to say Lukas wouldn't get a decent education at his local public school - which is one of the better public schools in Seattle. However, we have yet to tour it or even talk to the Kindergarten teachers. That's because tours in our public schools aren't allowed until late February, long after applications are due at the private schools. So basically, to even consider these private schools we have to get those apps in now, at up to $100 a pop.

What we do know about our Seattle public option, however, is that the class sizes are going to be huge, up to a 26 or 27 to 1 teacher to student ratio in Kindergarten with no teachers aides (Washington has the 3rd largest ratio in the country), and the schools are bringing in portables to handle the extra kids. This, while we would also have to pay for the 2nd 1/2 day of Kindergarten.

I mentioned to a neighbor who has a child at our neighborhood school what we had heard mentioned regarding classes that size. The kids in the middle get very little attention, while the needy kids and the squeaky wheels are focused on. That's about sums it up, she indicated.

But that has only made our choice more difficult. As you have probably already know, these private schools don't come cheap. Yes, Mrs. LIAYF and I are both professionals making a decent living wage and we are extremely lucky to even be able to consider private school, but with all our other obligations, and the hope of another addition soon to our family, it would be extremely difficult to swing yearly tuition at the kindergarten level that rivals that of many colleges. Sure, we will apply for any tuition assistance each school has to offer, though we are generally unsure what if any we would qualify for.-
But the real question isn't "Can we afford it?" It's "Can we afford not to if we can at all find a way to make it work?" Lukas is a bright, funny, and extremely social boy with loads of potential. We love him to death and want the very best for him. But the questions still remain. With some of the extra savings from choosing a public school (even though we would be paying for full day vs half day public kindergarten) could we supplement with after school classes, trips, technology, etc... which would give just as good an overall experience? Well, we're really not sure.

In the end our choice will most likely come down to where he gets admitted (did I mention these private schools are highly competitive for available spots?), how close that school is to where Mrs. LIAYF and I work, and how much, if any, tuition assistance is available.

If the combination is favorable, and the stars align just right, next year we may be eating at home much more often, staycationing in our beautiful city, brewing a lot more coffee rather than hitting the corner Starbucks, as well as any other belt tightening measures we haven't already employed. If not, we will enroll him in his public school and be active and involved parents there instead. We'll know more in the coming months.

How about you readers. If you had to tighten your belts considerably to send your kids to private school and a better education, would you opt to? What other considerations which I haven't mentioned here, would you have to consider? Thanks for any feedback you can give.

Monday, December 5, 2011

In case your were wondering, yes it IS that time of year again. And no, I'm not referring to "The Holidays". Rather, I'm talking about that other tradition that takes place as the we prepare to bid adieu to the past year, and welcome the new year (you know, the one where we will get into better shape, get more sleep, learn a foreign language, etc....) into our lives.

Of course, It's End of Year List time!

Here at LIAYF I will be doing a few list posts, most notably my 2011 Best Albums post, which I am especially looking forward to since I have listened to a ton of great music this year, but I am going to begin by continuing the tradition I started last year of breaking up my Best of list into two posts. One for the first half of the year, and another for the last half.

So if you are new to LIAYF, or if you are an occasional reader, check out these posts - which I consider to be among of the best that I published in the first half of 2011. Then, look for the July - December edition towards the end of the month.

January -Fear Not Citizen What do you get when you give a 3 year old his very first cape and unleash him on the school playground? A Super chivalrous hero for the people, that's what.